Update: Two Cruise Passengers Shot in Barbados to Rejoin Ship

Update, 7:30 a.m. EDT: The two P&O passengers shot in Barbados -- Philip and Ann Prior -- have both been discharged from hospital and will rejoin Adonia in St Kitts to sail home.

(6:30 a.m. EST) -- Two P&O Cruises' passengers are in hospital after being shot by an armed robber during a port call in Barbados.

A 59-year-old woman was shot in the right thigh and a 72-year-old man was shot in the pelvis on the outskirts of the capital Bridgetown as they made their way back to Adonia on Sunday afternoon. They have been named as Philip and Ann Prior, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, according to a report in the Evening Standard.

According to police reports the attacker fled the scene with the woman's handbag before the police arrived. Passers-by rushed to the couple's aid, using towels as bandages, until an ambulance arrived.
The pair was taken to the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital where they are said to be 'comfortable', and one of them has since been released (we are still trying to establish which one).

A statement from P&O Cruise read:
“Two passengers on Adonia have been hospitalised in Bridgetown, Barbados following an incident on shore. Local authorities are investigating. Our shoreside customer care team and ship's medical team are providing support as necessary.”

A police spokesman said: “It appears the incident was a robbery. They are currently receiving medical attention but are not in a life-threatening condition. They are talking to our detectives to assist with the investigation. We believe the couple were on the way back to their cruise ship.”

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of an incident involving two British tourists in Bridgetown, Barbados. We are providing consular assistance."

Adonia is on an 85-night world cruise which left Southampton on January 8, 2013 and will arrive back in Southampton on April 3, 2013. The ship left St Lucia this morning.

We have contacted P&O to find out whether the two passengers will be flown home from Barbados or join the ship at a later date and will update you when we hear back.